A handsome map from a fascinating series of strongly engraved and colored plans of "principal cities, harbours, forts &c. in the World," drawn, engraved and published by John Luffman in between 1799 and 1801. Luffman, who was also a goldsmith, worked in London from about 1776 until 1802, issuing a number of separate maps as well as atlases such as his Select Plans. This work contained a wide and unusual selection of detailed plans from all around the world. These are historically of considerable interest, but each is also a lovely example of turn-of-the-century mapmaking in England, then the center of the cartographic world. $55Go to listing of other maps from Luffman's Select Plans

A lovely seventeenth century map of the Greece by Frederick de Wit. De Wit followed in the footsteps of the earlier Dutch cartographic publishers Jansson and Blaeu, and like them, he issued maps known for their beautiful engraving and hand coloring. Detail is dense and accurate, with the political regions and islands distinguished by the attractive hand colored borders. This map shows the entire Greek peninsula and the myriad Greek islands, including Crete. A elaborate and highly decorative title cartouche is placed in the lower left corner, with a classical figure surrounded by objects representing the arts and knowledge of the ancients. $1,100Go to page with maps of Greece and the Balkans

William Darton, Sr. started his mapmaking business in 1787 in London, and thus began a cartographic publishing house that would last, in various manifestations, until the 1860s. William Darton, Jr. joined his father late in the eighteenth century and these are maps engraved by him for Walker's Geography. While not large, the maps contain an impressive amount of detail carefully presented. The information used was the best available in London at the beginning of the nineteenth century, meaning the best in the world, so these maps are not only attractive, but provide an excellent cartographic picture of the world at the time. $160Go to page with other maps by William Darton

Mathew Carey was the first American to specialize in map publishing and the maps from his General Atlas represent the best American cartography of the beginning of the nineteenth century. This map is his general map of Euorope, showing the political situation on the continent at the time. $250

A detailed map of the Netherlands. The map is by John Cary (ca. 1754-1835), the founder of the famous English cartographic firm. From about mid-way through the eighteenth century, British cartographers were the best in the world, and the maps produced by Cary are good examples of the quality they achieved. Rivers, towns, roads, and other information is clearly presented with very crisp engravings, with an almost three-dimensional topographical appearance. The subtle hand coloring adds a decorative touch to this fine early nineteenth century historic document. $175Go to page with other maps by John Cary

A detailed and precisely drawn map of Bordeaux by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge (SDUK). This wonderful English enterprise was devoted to the spreading of up-to-date information and the enhancing of understanding. The Society is noted for their excellent maps, in particular their series of city maps of all parts of the world. These maps show most streets and major buildings. This map of Bordeaux is typical of the Society's output, with clear presentation of much detail of the city. It is a fine map of the city from the first part of the nineteenth century. $80Go to other maps by the SDUK

An excellent map of Scandinavia by David H. Burr, one of the most important American cartographers of the first part of the nineteenth century. Having studied under Simeon DeWitt, Burr produced the second state atlas issued in the United States, of New York in 1829. He was then appointed to be geographer for the U.S. Post Office and later geographer to the House of Representatives. As a careful geographer, Burr is painstaking in this map to put in only information for which he felt there was a scientific basis. Burr's maps are scarce and quite desirable. $125Go to page with other maps of Scandinavia

David H. Burr. "Prussian States." From A New Universal Atlas (1835). New York: Thomas Illman, 1835. 10 3/8 x 12 1/2. Engraving. Full original color. Very good condition. Denver.

An excellent map of Prussia by David H. Burr, one of the most important American cartographers of the first part of the nineteenth century. Having studied under Simeon DeWitt, Burr produced the second state atlas issued in the United States, of New York in 1829. He was then appointed to be geographer for the U.S. Post Office and later geographer to the House of Representatives. As a careful geographer, Burr is painstaking in this map to put in only information for which he felt there was a scientific basis. Burr's maps are scarce and quite desirable. $125

An excellent map of the Ireland by the great American cartographer, Henry Schenck Tanner. In 1816, Henry, his brother Benjamin, John Vallance and Francis Kearny formed an engraving firm in Philadelphia. Having had experience at map engraving through his work with John Melish, Tanner conceived of the idea of compiling and publishing an American Atlas, which was begun in 1819 by Tanner, Vallance, Kearny & Co.. Soon Tanner took over the project on his own, and thus began his career as cartographic publisher. The American Atlas was a huge success, and this inspired Tanner to produce his Universal Atlas, of more manageable size. This atlas contained excellent maps of all parts of the world. In 1841, Carey & Hart issued an edition of the atlas, and the maps were later purchased by S. Augustus Mitchell, and then Thomas, Cowperthwait & Co. Maps from the early Tanner edition are very rare and this is a nice example. $275Go to Ireland maps page

David H. Burr. "Turkey in Europe." From A New Universal Atlas. New York: Thomas Illman, 1835. 10 1/8 x 12 5/8. Engraving. Full original color. Very good condition. Denver.

An excellent map of the Balkans by David H. Burr, one of the most important American cartographers of the first part of the nineteenth century. Having studied under Simeon DeWitt, Burr produced the second state atlas issued in the United States, of New York in 1829. He was then appointed to be geographer for the U.S. Post Office and later geographer to the House of Representatives. As a careful geographer, Burr is painstaking in this map to put in only information for which he felt there was a scientific basis. This map shows one of Europe's most turbulent regions, showing Herzegovina, Bosnia, Serbia, Walachia, Moldavia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Albania with impressive detail, each nation highlighted in a different color. Burr's maps are scarce and quite desirable. $125

Thomas Moule. "Dorsetshire." From The English Counties Delineated. London: George Virtue, 1837. Engraving with original hand color. 8 x 10. Trimemd slightly at left. Else, very good condition.

A map of Dorsetshire from probably the most attractive of the nineteenth century series of British county maps. Included are vignettes of scenes, buildings, coats-of-arms, and monuments reflecting more than just the topography of the county depicted. It is maps like these which make collecting British county maps so satisfying. $85Go to listing of other maps from Moule's atlasGo to British county maps page

George F. Cruchley after John Cary. "Cruchley's (Late Cary's) Reduction of his Large Map of England and Wales, with part of Scotland; Showing all the Railways & Turnpike Roads With the Great Rivers and the Course of the different Navigable Canals: The Market and Borough Towns and principal places adjoining the Road . to which is added, The actual distance from one Market Town to another. With The exact admeasurement prefixed to each from the Metropolis." London: George F. Cruchley, ca. 1850. Separately issued map with original buckram cover (with original label). 30 x 24. Engraving. Original hand color. Some very light discoloration and separations at folds (expertly repaired), and two areas of light spotting. Overall, very attractive and good condition.

George Frederick Cruchley (1787-1880) was a London map publisher, seller, and globe maker. This map is one that he acquired from John Cary, issuing this updated version around the middle of the century. At this time, Great Britain was at the height of its Industrial Revolution. The rise of its industrial power created the huge demand for a transportation network to service these industries, leading first to the development of a wide web of canals and turnpikes. Then in the years leading up to the middle of the century, a huge railroad building boom transformed the transportation (as well as industrial and social) scene in Britain. The full title of this wonderful map shows that Cruchley tried to capture all this development on this map. This map is a reduced version of a larger map, issued on thin paper and folded into covers for use by travelers. The roads, canals, rivers, and railroads depicted would be of great use, as well as the information on the market towns and cities, as well as the distances between all these. Ferries from Britain to Europe and Ireland are also noted. Despite the plethora of detail, the information is very clearly presented, with crisp engraving and neat labels. The map is also very decorative, with each county highlighted in a contrasting pastel shade and the title cartouche attractively gracing the top right corner. As a cartographic statement of the state of England and Wales in the middle of the nineteenth century, this map is as good as it gets. $475Go to listing of maps of the British Isles (regions & whole)

Charles Desilver, one of the many publishers working in Philadelphia during the mid-nineteenth century, issued an atlas of maps based on the famous Tanner-Mitchell-Cowperthwait series. Desilver used much the same information as originally drawn in the 1840s, but updated the maps with new roads, towns, and other information. Insets showing "Cronstadt and St. Petersburg", "Sveaborg", "Port Baltic", "Chart of Reval", and "Riga". An attractive and fascinating document of these countries. $175

"Wyld's Map of the Baltic or East Sea, including the Gulfs of Botnia and Finland and Surrounding Countries Embracing the Present Seat of War." London: James Wyld, ca. 1863-64? Separately issued, folding map: dissected into 21 sections and mounted linen. 19 x 26 1/4. Engraving. Original hand color. Very good condition. Folding into original cloth covers; with some wear at hinge.

An excellent map of the lands around the Baltic Sea, including northern Germany, Denmark, Prussia, Russia, and the southern part of the Scandinavian peninsula. Folding maps like this were often issued to document a current crisis of interest to readers, and this map is no exception, for as the title notes, it shows the "Present Seat of War." Though undated, the mention that Wyld is Geographer to "the Queen and H.R.H. Price Albert," indicates a date after 1840, the year of their marriage. Though Albert died in 1861, the map could have been issued shortly after, as the royal title could still apply. The only war in this region during this period were the Schleswig-Holstein conflict (1863-64) and the second Polish Revolution (1863-64). Given the focus of the map, the former is more likely the war to which this fine map was a response. $375Go to page with other folding maps of Europe

S. Augustus Mitchell, Jr., of Philadelphia, was one of the largest map publishers of the middle of the nineteenth century. The firm was founded by his father, who from the middle of the nineteenth century, issued atlases and maps of all parts of the world in all formats. The Mitchell atlases contained up-to-date maps which were as attractive as they were accurate. This shows Europe just after the unification of Italy and just before the unification of Germany. These two events would change the balance of power in Europe and push the continent ever closer to war. $50

S. Augustus Mitchell, Jr., of Philadelphia, was one of the largest map publishers of the middle of the nineteenth century. The firm was founded by his father, who from the middle of the nineteenth century, issued atlases and maps of all parts of the world in all formats. The Mitchell atlases contained up-to-date maps which were as attractive as they were accurate. This shows that part of Europe which was the scene of increasing turmoil in the late 19th century. In just a few decades, this region would be the tinderbox which lit the fire for a devastating World War. $55

This map, from the same atlas, focuses right in the Balkans, showing the results of the Berlin Congress Treaty of July 1878. This was supposed to stabilize the region, though of course it did not work. $75